Footprints in the mud
Once again it has been a fabulous week in the Wimbledon forest. The weather continues to improve, and the forest just keeps on providing incredible learning opportunities.
To start the week some children enjoyed a fire and roasting apples. Together on the walk in we collected lots of sticks and broke them in to smaller pieces. Carefully the children arranged them in the fire pit before Christie began the fire. Once hot enough we added apples that the children had their own chance to add some cinnamon and sugar, wrapping in tinfoil. It was so delicious and rewarding making our own snack.
The excitement has continued when some of us got to go on a big walk to the beech tree forest. Educators took lunch with them meaning that after a long walk they could refuel on some delicious soup before play. At the beech tree forest there is an incredible big hill prefect for running down and climbing up. As well as lots of trees to climb and space to run around in. Other adventure walks have taken us to bridges made from pallets, a den that got turned in to a doctor’s office and plenty of logs to practice balancing. With all these adventure walks children have noticed areas that have lots of extra litter, meaning of many of them we have brought along litter pickers. It is incredible seeing how conscious the children are of the forest around them.
This week we have seen children initiate play in acting out many of our favourite stories, including the Gruffalo, Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Bears. The littles ones work together to remember the characters and choose who they are going to be, often having multiple children be one character. With some support from educators, they would then re-enact the story. As educators, we were so impressed by how much the children were able to recall and how many lines they were able to quote. Once the stories begin, they often continue with no support and the children showed incredible skills at keeping the game going.
Another element of the forest learning this week has been from exploring footprints. Often on walks in the children are quick to notice patterns in the mud and can associate them with animals. One morning we drew out some of the foot prints we might find, and some we might not such as an elephant. We all had such fun guessing the prints and looking for them ourselves. The little ones also made their own prints by standing in squishy mud and stamping on pieces of paper.
We feel so lucky to be surrounded by opportunities to play, learn and laugh. Often the children create their own play from so little and it is a privilege watching them be so at one with the environment around them.
Little Forest Folk
Wimbledon